GLENROSE XABA BIDS FOR THIRD SPAR GRAND PRIX TITLE

Cape Town, South Africa: Defending champion Glenrose Xaba’s bid to become the fourth athlete to win the SPAR Grand Prix three times got off to a good start with her victory in the first SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge in Cape Town on Sunday.

The Boxer runner won the race in 33:13 to earn 20 points for the victory and five bonus points. She is just one point ahead of the Ethiopian Nedbank runner, Salem Gebre, who also earned five bonus points. They were the only senior runners

to earn bonus points.

Last year, Xaba won maximum bonus points in all her races. Her slower time on Sunday may have been the result of a 30-minute delay at the start of the race, for safety reasons.

She said after the race that she was disappointed with her time.

“We stood too long at the start and my muscles were very stiff and my body didn’t respond well. But I am happy that I was able to keep my focus and win the race.”

Xaba’s training partner, Karabo Mailula, is in third position on the log with 17 points.

Former SPAR Grand Prix winner, Lebo Phalula, is in fourth place, with 16.

The next SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge will be run in Durban on Sunday June 22.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Glenrose Xaba1- Defending SPAR Grand Prix Champion, Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) tops the Grand Prix leaderboard after winning the first SPAR Grand Prix 10km series race of the 2025 season in Cape Town on Sunday 30 March 2025.

Glenrose Xaba2- Defending SPAR Grand Prix Champion, Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) tops the Grand Prix leaderboard after winning the first SPAR Grand Prix10km series race of the 2025 season in Cape Town on Sunday 30 March 2025.

Lebo Phalula – Lebo Phalula of the Boxer stable (middle) made a strong statement during the first SPAR Grand Prix10km race of the 2025 season in Cape Town on Sunday 30 March 2025. Phalula finished the race in an impressive fifth place putting her fifth on the Grand Prix leaderboard after the opening SPAR Grand Prix series race and top of the leaderboard in the 40-49 age group. Flanking Phalula are on her left Cacisile Sosibo (Boxer), on her right Karabo Mailula (Tuks AC) and behind Karabo More (Boxer).

Caster Semenya- Legendary Caster Semenya (right) congratulates her charge Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) after winning the first SPAR Grand Prix10km series race of the 2025 season in Cape Town on Sunday 30 March 2025. The win puts Xaba on top of the SPAR Grand Prix leaderboard.

The top three finishers – The top three finishers in the first SPAR Grand Prix10km series race of the 2025 season in Cape Town on Sunday 30 March 2025 are from left, third placed Karabo Mailula (Tuks AC), winner Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) and second placed Selam Gebre (Nedbank) of Ethiopia. Xaba tops the SPAR Grand Prix leaderboard after the opening race a point ahead of second placed Gebre with Mailula in third position.

Photo Credits: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

Attached are the SPAR Grand Prix leaderboard points standing after the first race in Cape Town (all age groups)